For soybean cultivators, the entire season’s yield revolves around merely a few crucial weeks of harvesting. To seize the most opportune moment requires a delicate equilibrium between maximizing production and minimizing potential losses. Should the soybeans be harvested prematurely, the elevators may suffer from the adverse influence of moisture. Yet, if one lingers excessively, the fields might endure grievous damage. This guide is designed to usher you through the essential elements of a successful harvest to ensure that the machinery performs with utmost efficiency.
When to Harvest Soybeans?
While the majority of soybeans across the United States are generally reaped between the concluding days of September and the early passages of November, the precise moment of harvest adheres more obediently to the temperament of the field rather than the rigidity of the calendar. The particular period during which one may commence harvest is governed by numerous decisive elements.
- Geographic Location: The duration of harvest differs from one region to another. Within the Midwest, operations typically commence from late September and persist through October. Yet, in the southern territories, this endeavor may protract itself into November or even December, particularly within systems where soybeans share their season with a preceding crop.
- Planting Date and Weather: Should the seeds have been introduced to the soil at an earlier date and accompanied by a summer both torrid and parched, the harvest shall naturally advance its arrival. On the contrary, when sowing occurs belatedly or the season unfolds with coolness and dampness, the harvest shall defer itself accordingly.
Ultimately, the commencement of soybean harvest is dictated by the moisture content of the grain. The optimal boundary resides between 13% and 15%, a balance that preserves against shattering while evading the burdensome penalties exacted for excessive dampness at the elevator. Certain cultivators possessing on-farm drying apparatus may elect to begin their harvest when moisture lingers between 15% and 18%, aspiring to outpace the arrival of inclement weather — though such haste demands cautious supervision and incurs additional drying expenditure.
3 Signs of Soybean Harvest
Before you even bring a moisture meter to the field, your soybean plants will already disclose to you, through their outer appearance, the forthcoming arrival of maturity. To perceive and interpret these indications correctly is the foremost step toward seizing the ideal moment of harvest.
1. Leaf Color and Drop
The initial omen manifests in the transformation of leaf hue. The once vivid green foliage gradually assumes a uniform yellow tone. Thereafter, the leaves will successively detach and fall away, thereby exposing the stems and pods to open view. When approximately 95% of the pods on a plant have attained their final shade of tan or brown, it signifies that the soybean has reached the stage of physiological completion.
2. Pod and Bean Condition
With the leaves fallen, the pods commence their process of desiccation. A pod ready for harvest will possess a crisp and fragile texture. When one shakes the plant gently, a distinct rattling of beans should be audible within. By cracking open a few pods, one may observe that the beans are firm, round, and display their mature coloration—typically yellow. They should detach from the pod with ease. Should the beans remain soft or elongated, it indicates excessive internal moisture, and thus, they require further time for natural drying.
3. The Moisture Test
While visual observation provides an approximate estimation, the definitive judgment must rely upon the moisture test. Employ a properly calibrated moisture meter to obtain an accurate reading. Gather samples from multiple regions of the field, for the degree of maturity often differs, particularly in undulating terrain or soil of varied constitution.
Tips for Soybean Harvest
Success in harvesting is determined by the faithful execution of fundamental principles. The following are several crucial enlightenments:
1. Scout Fields Diligently
Do not merely observe the entrance of the field. One must penetrate deeply into various sections to attain the true average of crop maturity. Pay particular heed to the low-lying areas, for these places may reach ripeness in a delayed manner.
2. Watch the Weather Forecast
Avoid harvesting when the beans become hardened owing to morning dew or recent rainfall. Conversely, during hot, dry, and windy afternoons, the loss from shattering will rise steeply. Endeavor to carry out harvesting during the “most suitable time of the day,” when humidity stands at a favorable level.
3. Setting the Combine and Harvest Speed
This is where you can save or lose bushels. Start with the settings recommended in your operator’s manual, but be prepared to make adjustments as conditions change. Reel speed should be about 10-25% faster than your ground speed. Set your cylinder/rotor speed just fast enough to thresh the beans, and open the concave clearance enough to avoid splitting beans. If your settings keep slipping or you can’t achieve a clean sample, it might be a sign of worn components. Worn threshing elements, concaves, or sieves can’t perform properly, leading directly to grain loss. Before the season starts, it’s a wise investment to inspect these areas and replace any worn components with high-quality harvester parts to ensure your machine is ready for peak performance.
4. Minimize Header Loss
This is where the majority of harvest loss takes place. Set the flexible cutter bar to operate as low as possible without stirring soil. Position the reel so that it lays the plants gently onto the conveyor, immediately ahead of the cutter.
Prepare Your Storage: Before the first batch of grain enters, ensure the grain bin is clean, dry, and devoid of old grain. Test the aeration fans and moisture monitoring instruments to confirm their proper functioning.
5. Prepare Your Storage
Before the first batch of grain enters, ensure the grain bin is clean, dry, and devoid of old grain. Test the aeration fans and moisture monitoring instruments to confirm their proper functioning.
Summary
A profitable soybean harvest depends on two things: precise timing and well-maintained equipment. Learning to read field signs and understand how to set up your machinery will maximize the yields you’ve worked so hard for all season. Downtime is a real problem when parts wear out during the harvest. FridayParts offers a wide selection of high-quality, affordable aftermarket parts for a wide range of combines and headers, ensuring you can get back in the field quickly and keep the harvest moving smoothly.
